Chittenden County stretches from the Lake Champlain shore around Burlington up into the Green Mountain foothills, where Mount Mansfield in Underhill rises to 4,393 feet. That range shows up in the houses. A walk-up in Winooski, a split-level in Essex Junction and a farmhouse outside Huntington or Westford each put a different set of stairs between someone and the bedroom.
This page is for older homeowners and the adult children helping them. It covers what the county's homes mean for a stair lift, which programs may help with the cost, and who to call in Colchester, Burlington and across the state before you sign anything.
Vermont's homes are older than the national average. Roughly a quarter of the state's housing units were built in 1939 or earlier, compared with about 12% nationally. Older housing is less common in Chittenden County than in Rutland or Caledonia counties, but it is still easy to find in Burlington's Old North End, in Winooski and in rural farmhouses in the outlying towns.
Those houses often have narrow staircases, tight turns and multiple levels. A narrow straight run can usually take a straight rail. A stair that turns at a landing or winds near the top usually needs a curved rail built to that specific staircase, which is why we measure in person.
If the house was built before 1978, it may contain lead paint. Mounting a rail means drilling into stair treads, so it is worth knowing the age of the home before work starts.
Much of the newer housing around South Burlington, Williston, Colchester and Essex is single-family homes, townhouses and split-level homes. Split-levels have several short flights instead of one long one. Sometimes only one flight is the real problem, and a short straight lift solves it.
Townhouses tend to have one straight, steep flight to the bedrooms, which is often the simplest install. Walk-up apartments and low-rise buildings are different: the stairs are usually shared, so the owner or building manager has to approve any equipment before we can quote it.
Around Burlington the ground is fairly flat, and the challenge is usually inside the house. In the hillier towns like Bolton, Jericho, Richmond and Underhill, the first obstacle may be the steps from the driveway to the door. Outdoor stair lifts are built for weather, and a vertical platform lift can make sense where a porch sits well above the ground.
Where you live in the county also matters for money. The urbanized lakeshore core and the rural towns fall under different eligibility rules for some programs, especially USDA Section 504, which is covered below.
Chittenden County is Vermont's most populous county, with a 2020 population of 168,323.
Incomes are higher here than in much of the state, with a median household income of $91,144 and a median owner-occupied home value of $470,600. Even so, the county's poverty rate is near 9.7%, and income-tested programs still reach many homeowners, especially in older or more rural areas.
Few programs name stair lifts outright, so plan on calling and asking directly. The one program in the list that does is the VA Specially Adapted Housing grant, for veterans with a permanent, total service-connected disability. The VA HISA grant explicitly excludes stair glides.
Most of the others cover home accessibility work in general. The Champlain Housing Trust fund, Choices for Care, the VCIL programs and USDA Section 504 may or may not apply to a stair lift depending on your plan or their review. A good first call is Champlain Valley AAA (Age Well) in Colchester at (802) 865-0360. Veterans can reach the Chittenden County Veterans Service Officer in Burlington at (802) 863-7086.
A Medicaid long-term care waiver for people 65+ or adults 18+ with physical disabilities who meet nursing facility level of care. Its home modification benefit is described as ramps, grab bars and doorway widening; stair lifts are not listed, so coverage depends on the individual service plan. Call (800) 479-6151.
Helps low-income Vermonters with physical disabilities with home entry and bathroom changes such as ramps, grab bars and shower seats. Stair lifts are not listed on the program page; there is no online application, so call (802) 224-1807 for a screening.
A flexible, income-limited fund for disability-related equipment and services that help Vermonters stay independent at home. Stair lifts are not named as a covered item; call the program coordinator at (802) 224-1825.
For homeowners under 80% of Area Median Income, the first $3,000 of an eligible project is a grant and the rest is a low-interest loan; it covers home accessibility modifications, though stair lifts are not named. Burlington households are not eligible; call (802) 861-7388.
Loans up to $40,000 and grants up to $10,000 (grants for owners 62+) for very low-income homeowners in USDA-eligible rural areas, usually outlying towns rather than Burlington, South Burlington or Winooski. It covers health and safety repairs; stair lifts are not named, and the grant must be repaid if the home is sold within 3 years.
Pays up to $6,800 or $2,000 lifetime, depending on disability type, for medically necessary permanent changes like ramps and roll-in showers. It does not cover stair lifts; the VA explicitly excludes stair glides.
For veterans and service members with a permanent, total service-connected disability who own or plan to own the home, with a FY2026 maximum of $109,986 per the source. Stair lifts between floors are listed among common funded changes; confirm details with the VA at (800) 230-7201.
Offers free short-term device loans, demos, refurbished equipment and a financial loan service for assistive technology purchases. Stair lifts are not named, so ask about current inventory and eligibility at (802) 241-0312.
Older adults
875 Roosevelt Highway, Suite 210, Colchester, 05446
Veterans
175 Main Street, Burlington, 05401
No. Champlain Housing Trust states that funding restrictions keep it from serving Burlington households. Homeowners elsewhere in Chittenden, Franklin or Grand Isle County may qualify if household income is under 80% of Area Median Income.
Outlying towns are typically in USDA-eligible rural areas, while dense areas like Burlington, South Burlington and Winooski generally are not. Check your address on the USDA eligibility map. The grant portion requires the owner to be 62 or older.
Choices for Care lists ramps, grab bars and doorway widening as home modifications and does not name stair lifts. Coverage would be decided case by case through the person's service plan. Call (800) 479-6151 to start.
The Specially Adapted Housing grant is the VA option that may fund stair lifts, for veterans with a permanent, total service-connected disability. The HISA grant does not cover stair glides. The Chittenden County Veterans Service Officer can help at (802) 863-7086.
Narrow and turning stairs are common in older Chittenden County homes, especially in the Old North End, Winooski and rural farmhouses. A winding stair usually needs a curved rail made to measure, so an in-home measurement is the first step.
Champlain Valley AAA (Age Well), at 875 Roosevelt Highway, Suite 210 in Colchester, can talk through options at (802) 865-0360. They can point you toward the programs above before you get a quote.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
